A global retail company is creating a new compliance management process.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation (250–350 words)

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According to EC-Council CCISO documentation, a global retail organization’s primary compliance obligation relates to the protection of payment card data, making PCI DSS the most critical standard.

PCI DSS is a mandatory, industry-specific compliance standard enforced by payment brands and acquirers. CCISO materials highlight that failure to comply can result in fines, increased transaction fees, loss of card processing privileges, and reputational damage.

ISO and NIST (Options A and B) provide broad frameworks and best practices, while ITIL (Option D) focuses on service management. None impose direct, enforceable obligations on retail payment environments.

Thus, Option C is correct.